Alcohol banned in Czech parliament

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Parliament has banned the sale of alcoholic beverages during sessions of the lower house.

The chamber’s speaker Jan Hamacek issued the ban Thursday. It applies to all bars and restaurants in the parliament building.

There have not been any recent incidents of excessive drinking by lawmakers, but the ban was promoted by the new ANO (Yes) movement led by billionaire businessman Andrej Babis following October’s parliamentary election. ANO argued that most people are not allowed to drink at work, so there was no reason why lawmakers should.